Canopy MLS taps CTO Steve Byrd as next CEO

Steve Byrd is moving from vice president and chief technology officer to chief executive officer at Canopy MLS, effective Aug. 1, according to an announcement on Wednesday. 

The organization said Byrd’s appointment is part of its efforts to restructure its leadership and governance.

Byrd succeeds Anne Marie DeCatsye who is retiring at the end of 2026 after more than 25 years leading both Canopy MLS and the Canopy Realtor Association, the organization said in an announcement.

Canopy MLS, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the nation’s largest multiple listing services with more than 22,000 subscribers. The MLS is owned and operated by the Canopy Realtor Association.

Since joining the organization in 1997, Byrd has overseen the technology infrastructure that powers both the MLS and the association, including hardware, software, networks and platforms used daily by thousands of real estate professionals.

As CEO, Byrd will provide strategic leadership and oversee operations, financial management, innovation and long-term growth, according to the announcement.

He will also lead efforts to broaden products, services and business opportunities to position Canopy as a national player in MLS innovation. Byrd is expected to continue working closely with executives in the Southeast MLS Alliance, which includes Canopy MLS, Charleston Trident Regional MLS, Georgia MLS, Realtracs in Nashville and realMLS in Northeast Florida. The alliance is designed to give brokers and agents greater data access and enhanced services across markets, supporting a more open and efficient marketplace.

The appointment coincides with a strategic shift in how the association and MLS are governed. The boards of both Canopy Realtor Association and Canopy MLS have decided to install separate chief executives for each entity, moving away from a shared CEO model. Leaders said this structure is intended to better position both organizations for future growth and to clarify accountability.

For the remainder of 2026, Byrd will report to DeCatsye. Under a new operations and management agreement taking effect in January 2027, he will hold full executive authority over Canopy MLS while working closely with the association’s executive leadership. A national search is underway for a dedicated CEO for the Canopy Realtor Association.

Byrd’s industry involvement extends beyond Canopy. He has served on the Council of MLS Board of Directors, the Real Estate Standards Organization Board of Directors and the National Association of Realtors MLS Standards Workgroup, as well as advisory panels for Cotality, Realtor.com and ShowingTime.

This article was written by Brooklee Han and generated with the assistance of HousingWire Automation, then reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication.